The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-10-27
THE TARIFF SWINDLE.
The Farmer and the Mechanic Its
Victims.
A Scheme Connected to Make the Poor
.lan Poorer and the Rich
Man Richer.

The question at issue to-day is not
whether it is wise, just or expedient to
exact a tariff-tax at all, not whether as
a matter of economical philosophy,
"Free Trade" or Protection" is the
true theory OF international Commercial
exchanges hut whether in view of the
large and constantly increasing annual
surplus in the treasury (now more than
one hundred million dollarsl AMI the
financial stringency caused by the con-
slant accumulation of the peoples
money where it can not be used ex-
cept ty creating new and unnecessary
channels of expenditure, it is not best
to stop the accumulation in such way
as to afford relief to the great mass o.
the people.
The present tariff system is one of
the most ini9uitous that can be con-
ceived. Not only is the burden that it
imposes upon the people enormous, but
it is radically unjust and practically
outrageous. Upon the plea OF protect
ing American work, it robs the Aneri-
can workingman, whether he be farmer
or mechanic, with the real Though no.
avowed) purpose of enriching the mer-
chant anu the manufacturer. And
then, after the robbery has been COM
mitted, it discriminates constantly in
favor of the robber, on the princi pie
that ITO him that hath shall be given
more abundantly, and from him that
hath not shall be taken even the little
that he hath"
Let us see how this works in the
case of
The present tariff discriminates in faror
of The manufcc!urtr, against The producer
of the raU hiaieridL, a1ho is the dJ,,;culiuv-
ist.
In the first place, it admits, duty free,
or with very light duties, large class
OF articles used i'll manufactures while
it imposes very heavy duties on articles
consume by the agriculturist. which
come into competition with the articles
produced by the manufacturer.
1t admits, duty free, all berries, nuts
AMI vegetables used in dyeing. all dye
woods in the stich, barilla, bleaching
powder, Brazil wood, keip, indigo, lac
dye, madder, crude saltpetrc, shellac,
sumac, turmeric, and nume Gus other
articles entering into manufactures.
The articles above enumerated, and
many others, are admitted without any
duties, in or,ier to benefit or protect"
the manufacturer; while the farmers
and other lahoring men who Euy the
goods manufactured, are taxed on all
articles OF manufactura coming in COM
petition with domestic articles OF the
same kind, from 20 TO 100 per cent.
To benefit the manufacturer, the wool,
VIII ch comes in direct competition with
that raised by Ohio wool-growers, is al
mitted at ,! cents per pound; while
The farmer who raises wool, and other
people. have to pay for the
Goth into which it is manufactured,
tax OF over s5 per cent, in addition to
the price OF the goods and the profits
thereon.
To benefit the manufacturer, fax IS
at a duty OF 80 perton, VIII CT
IS equal to s per cent ad valorcm; while
the consumer is take | 80 to 10 per cent
On all articles into which it is manufact-'
ured.
Raw hides, which come in oonpati-
.ition with the farmers, are a limited
ree OF duty; while the leather, into
1lsich they are manufactured, is pro
-ected" by duty OF 20 per cent, al
valorem.